Bienvenido a Council 2019!

Here’s a preview of what’s in store for us today, Friday, February 22.

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer (Room 103)

8:45 a.m. Council reconvenes, with prayer.Way of Love Conversation: LEARN
Sewanee: The University of the South
Episcoal Church Foundation in West TexasWay of Love Conversation: PRAY
Church Planting Initiative
Financial Reports
Announcements
Noonday Prayers & Necrology

During Council 2019, participants are invited into seven conversations about each of the seven practices for a Jesus-centered life laid out by the Most Rev. Michael Curry. Contributors to the Fall/Winter 2018 Reflections Magazine that explored the Way of Love will introduce each Bible study conversation, either in person or via video.

Watch Daniel Morehead’s introduction below, and consider “what practices help you to turn again and again to Jesus Christ and the Way of Love?”

Tatiana Hoecker, World Mission Program Coordinator, presents the report on the Department of World Missions in the Diocese of West Texas. Joining the diocesan staff this year, she coordinates and aids our World Mission team leaders to foster and grow their programs around the world to be self-sustaining and to create sustainable change in communities world-wide. She reminds us that World Mission is “focused on SUSTAINABILITY in all of our programs and partnerships. We never work FOR the people we serve, we work WITH them.”

She also introduced Patricia Perea, development consultant for World Mission. Tatiana explains that “[Patricia] is communicating and working with priests and parishes to involve them in World Mission projects. When you get a call from her, make sure to pick it up! She wants to make sure you have access to all the resources you need to be a part of World Mission.”

Ms. Emily Kittrell, Director of Marketing & Communications reports on the new Department of Communications at the Diocese of West Texas.

Emily officially introduces herself and colleague Ms. Laura McGrew, Manager of Communications, shares the direction for the department, and begins a conversation with the audience through participation in a real-time digital polling tool.

Emily shares, “We understand that as a leader in the church you want to be a steward of compelling information, a storyteller, a kingdom-builder. In order to accomplish that you need an example of an amazing communications strategy, and that should start here…Which is why we have a renewed vision to develop and implement a multi-faceted strategic marketing and communications plan through the production of targeted, timely, relevant, and compelling messages, and through training and support for church communicators.”

On behalf of the Congregational Development Department, Haley Bankey offers a brief description and tutorial of the community building and file sharing program called Basecamp. She invites anyone with questions about this resource to visit the booth at Council, or contact the department at cong.dev@dwtx.org.

The Rev. Scott Brown, Headmaster, TMI-Episcopal reports on TMI Episcopal in the Diocese of West Texas. TMI Episcopal is a coed, college-preparatory school for students in grades 6-12. Its rich history dates back to 1893 when the school was founded by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas and has grown to become the excellent academic community it is today.

Scott shares in his report, “Through relationships with our students, we are committed to challenging and cherishing our student body.” Our students will do very well in college admissions process…They’re enrolled in top-tier colleges all over the world and that is important. But what is equally as important is that they are great human beings, that they are serving their communities, and that they know they are loved. Challenged and cherished: We can do both. In fact, we must do both.”

The Rt. Rev. Benito Juarez-Martinez, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Mexico is honored on the occasion of his retirement, after many years of shared ministry and friendship between our dioceses. Martinez was ordained to the priesthood in 1973 and the Episcopate on November 13, 1999. About his ministry, he says, “My life with Jesus Christ has been a pilgrimmage that has given me the opportunity to meet and learn from many brothers and sisters of almost all the American Continent. I give thanks to our Almighty God because He has been my inspiration and my guide.”